Ajit Pawar takes oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, backed by several MLAs, today took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the Eknath Shinde-led government, triggering a shock split in the party. Pawar will share the post with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis.

Eight other NCP MLAs, including senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde and Dilip Walse Patil, took oath as ministers along with Ajit Pawar at a ceremony in Raj Bhawan.